He is pound for pound the greatest boxer in the world. An eight-time world champion, the 147-pound Filipino fighter has obliterated his way through weight classes on his way to becoming a national hero in the Philippines and an international superstar.

The southpaw has crushing punching power, and his team has worked hard to develop a right as devastating as his left. But Pacquiao is packing a secret weapon when he walks into the ring - a deep abiding faith.

"The most important thing is to believe in God," Pacquiao said during a recent train trip to Washington, D.C. With his wife by his side and his team taking up the entire private train car, Pacquiao spoke to CNN about his faith, politics and his upcoming fight.

He was heading to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Last fall, Reid was down in the polls in a tough re-election fight, so he called in Pacquiao for a last-minute rally. On Tuesday in Washington, Reid said it was Pacquiao who helped put his campaign over the top. (Watch CNN's Carol Costello's report on the trip here.)

Pacquiao is cagey but diplomatic when talking politics but lights up when asked about his faith. It is a big part of his life as a boxer.

When the 32-year-old Catholic bounded into the ring before his latest pay-per-view match, a silver rosary bounced on his chest as he hopped in place getting ready for the fight. He looked skyward and crossed himself.

It's a familiar scene to those closest to him. "He crosses himself before each round," longtime Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said. "After every workout we end it with a prayer. He's very dedicated to his faith."

Pacquiao, left, receives communion during a Thanksgiving Mass at the Quiapo Church in Manila, Philippines, on November 20, 2010.

His publicist Fred Sternburg said while they are on the road Pacquiao always tries to duck quietly into Catholic churches for Mass. Sternburg said the quiet part doesn't always happen. One Sunday afternoon during a trip to San Francisco in 2009, Pacquiao tried to sneak into Mass on the way to the airport. He told the driver to pull over. Sternburg said he waited in the car and when he looked up a crowd of fans was chasing Pacquiao out of the church seeking autographs.

Pacquiao prays during a church service in Manila.

"Pacquiao lived on the streets in Manila in a paper shack and fought his way up on the streets. His story is a Cinderella story," said Bob Arum, his promoter at Top Rank.

And his story in the ring is one for the history books. His trainer thinks he may not just be the best pound-for-pound fighter today but the best pound-for-pound fighter ever.

"Eight world titles will never be duplicated. That makes him the best," Roach said. "That achievement will never be touched again, the caliber of fighters he's fighting, and his competition is great. And he's defeated all of them."

Pacquiao celebrates after defending his title.

Pacquiao is much shyer about his talents than his trainer. "I don't want to say I'm the best boxer in the world. I would say I'm a boxer who can fight a good fight against any fighter in the world. All my talent it all comes from God," he said.

Those talents have propelled him to be the face of boxing, not only in the U.S. but also around the world, according to Arum.

"His story has resonated because he's been able to fight his way out and become the person he is, and instead of turning his back on all that growing up, he embraces that," Arum said.

Pacquiao has taken home millions upon millions for his bouts. By some estimates, he has amassed more than $70 million from his boxing alone. That amount does not include his other business ventures or endorsements.

"(Pacquiao) gives so much money to charity and is such a caring person. And he does so many good works, most of which is not publicized so you don't even know about it," Arum said.

For Arum, that charity is a tangible example of Pacquiao's faith. "He's constantly calling me on the advances, on the upfront of his purse and so forth, because he spending the money on good things."

For Pacquaio it is clear he believes his success comes from God. "Everything that I have done, that is possible in my mind, He has made possible."

Arum and Roach both say Pacquiao's faith in God is as helpful to him in the ring as his lighting-fast fists and quick feet. Arum said Pacquiao sees himself as part of God's plan, laid out in front of him so nearly nothing bothers him.

"When he lost to (Erik) Morales he said he knew it was God's decision," Roach said. "He accepts it well." That was the last fight Pacquiao lost, in 2005. He went on to beat him two more times after that.

And that ability to move on quickly has paid big dividends.

As he looks ahead to his May 7 fight in Las Vegas against Sugar Shane Mosley, the expected boxing bravado and trash talk is noticeably absent from Pacquiao.

"I'm not going to say I'm going to win yet because the fight isn't done yet. I just need to train hard and believe in God," he said.

soundoff(506 Responses)

The Apostles' Creed 2011: (updated based on the studies of historians and theologians during the past 200 years)

I might believe in a god whose existence cannot be proven
and said god if he/she/it exists resides in an unproven,
human-created, spirit state of bliss called heaven.

I believe there was a 1st century CE, Jewish, simple,
preacher-man who was conceived by a Jewish carpenter
named Joseph living in Nazareth and born of a young Jewish
girl named Mary. (Some say he was a mamzer.)

Jesus was summarily crucified for being a temple rabble-rouser by
the Roman troops in Jerusalem serving under Pontius Pilate,

He was buried in an unmarked grave and still lies
a-mouldering in the ground somewhere outside of
Jerusalem.

Said Jesus' story was embellished and "mythicized" by
many semi-fiction writers. A bodily resurrection and
ascension stories were promulgated to compete with the
Caesar myths. Said stories were so popular that they
grew into a religion known today as Catholicism/Christianity
and featuring dark-age, daily wine to blood and bread to body rituals
called the eucharistic sacrifice of the non-atoning Jesus.

Amen

February 17, 2011 at 10:39 am |

Bob.

> Evil comes from the heart of a man. Good comes from God's heart.

Let's follow that logic.

– Evil comes from the heart of man.
– God created the heart of man.
– Evil comes from God.

Thinking is fun! It's also moronic to argue that the creator of everything isn't the creator of something.

February 17, 2011 at 10:49 am |

Nonimus

@Bob,
"It's also moronic to argue that the creator of everything isn't the creator of something."
Never thought of it that way. Well put!

February 17, 2011 at 11:19 am |

David Johnson

@Child of God

You said: "Good comes from God's heart"

Hmmm... God is good.?

God directly or at His insistence, murdered men, women and children including babies. Is this good? Is this moral?

God had a man believe he was going to sacrifice his son to Him. Do you know how traumatic that would be for a father and his son?
If you had the power would you do this? Would you be so insecure? Is this good? Is this moral?

There was a man who loved God. God made a bet with Satan that even if the man were tortured, his Possessions taken, and his children killed, he would still love God and never curse Him. God won the bet.
Would you do that? Would you kill a man's children for a bet? Is this good? Is this moral?

God sent a bear to kill a group of children, because they had teased one of His prophets.
Did the children deserve to die, because they teased a bald man? Is this good? Is this moral?

God allowed a man to sacrifice his daughter to Him, for giving the man a victory in battle.
Is this good? Is this moral?

God created a place He can send people to be burned for all eternity. Could an all good god do this?

If a puppy wet on the floor, would you hold it over a burner? Even for a second?

Jesus had this to say:
Matthew 7:17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Luke 6:43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

A good god can't do evil things!

Why is there so much suffering/evil if god is omnibenevolent and omnipotent?

Either god doesn't care or He does not exist. Which one gets your vote? LOL!

Cheers!

February 17, 2011 at 11:38 am |

a guy from Lebanon

@Davis Johnson:
You said:God had a man believe he was going to sacrifice his son to Him. Do you know how traumatic that would be for a father and his son?
That was to test the man's faith, see if he would still obey God, and in the end he didn't sacrifice his son.

You said:God created a place He can send people to be burned for all eternity. Could an all good god do this?
God created this place for Satan. Satan made man follow him and everyone who does goes there.

We can thank God for giving us a way to NOT go there. The choice is yours.

February 21, 2011 at 7:19 pm |

Child of God

Hi David Jonhson, it is OK to be mad if you are living a misrable life. God loves you no matter what. He is above all things and he will reach you with his grace. "Where sin abounded, grace was more abundant!" You and I are the reason for the destruction, but Jesus is responsible to save us.

February 17, 2011 at 10:30 am |

Bob.

> Hi David Jonhson, it is OK to be mad if you are living a misrable life.

Why is he miserable? Because anyone who doesn't believe in God is miserable by default? ROFL.

> God loves you no matter what. He is above all things and he will reach you with his grace. "Where sin abounded, grace was more abundant!" You and I are the reason for the destruction, but Jesus is responsible to save us.

God is the responsible agent for the destruction. God created us remember? What you're suggesting is akin to saying "I sharpened the knife, but it's the knife's fault for being sharp." Sillyness.

You need to read your bible and think upon it. God created evil. He created everything. Thanks for writing.

February 17, 2011 at 10:46 am |

David Johnson

@Child of God

Actually, I'm pretty happy.

Do you realize there is no proof for the existence of Jesus?

There were no eyewitness accounts of Jesus. The Gospels were written, by god knows who, in the third person. The Gospels were written with an agenda i.e., Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God.

We know virtually nothing about the persons who wrote the gospels we call Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
-Elaine Pagels, Professor of Religion at Princeton University, (The Gnostic Gospels)

The bottom line is we really don't know for sure who wrote the Gospels.
-Jerome Neyrey, of the Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, Mass. in "The Four Gospels," (U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 10, 1990)

Jesus is a mythical figure in the tradition of pagan mythology and almost nothing in all of ancient literature would lead one to believe otherwise. Anyone wanting to believe Jesus lived and walked as a real live human being must do so despite the evidence, not because of it.
-C. Dennis McKinsey, Bible critic (The Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy)

There are no known secular writings about Jesus, that aren't forgeries, later insertions, or hearsay. NONE!
Most of the disputed writings came from people who lived AFTER Jesus was dead. Can you say hearsay?

We don't even have a wooden shelf that Jesus might have built. Or anything written by Jesus (He was probably illiterate).

The Dead Sea Scrolls did not mention Jesus or have any New Testament scripture.

Jesus, if he existed, was not considered important enough to write about by any contemporary person. The myth hadn't had a chance to flourish.

Questions on the Crucifixion story:
"Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save." Mark 15:31
"Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe..." Mark 15:32
It would appear, that the chief priests are admitting that Jesus "saved" others. If they know this, then there is no reason for them to demand that Jesus descend from the cross, in order for them to believe. They already admitted to knowing of Jesus's "miracles".

I'm sure you will apply Evangelical gymnastics to these verses, but taken literally it would seem that this is just an embellishment by Mark. A work of fiction.

Here is some more:
According to Luke 23:44-45, there occurred "about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour, and the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst."

Yet not a single mention of a three hour ecliptic event got recorded by anyone. 'Cause it didn't happen!

Mathew 27 51:53
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

How come nobody wrote about zombies running through the cities? 'Cause it is all b.s.

The fact that Christianity did have great influence (mostly because of Constantine), does not mean Jesus ever existed. It just means people bought into the myth. At one time, everyone thought you could fall off the end of the earth. Didn't make it so.

If Jesus was the Messiah, why wouldn't god/Jesus have left tons of evidence? Multiple Writings by contemporary eyewitnesses – Jews and Romans.

There are thousands of different denominations of Christianity. Why couldn't an all knowing, all powerful god "inspire" a bible that no one could misinterpret? Why are there multiple religions, with their own god(s)?

Does God strongly desire that everyone, or almost everyone, believe that he exists?

Cheers!

February 17, 2011 at 10:57 am |

CW

Well,

I see all the christian ba-'shers have made there way here. To all those that want to make fun of prayer I'll say this....Just because christians pray doesn't mean God gives us "our wants". We pray out of 1) Obie-'dience to God 2) Because God instructs us if we pray and ask according to his will IT WILL BE DONE. With that said just because you pray doesn't mean "your will" is "God's will" for you. Those of you ba-'shing need to know the difference.

@ HeavenSent,

Your right the saga with the non-believers continues. They are blind....hope the let God make them see.

February 17, 2011 at 10:27 am |

Bob.

> Your right the saga with the non-believers continues. They are blind....hope the let God make them see.

Everyone who doesn't believe in your book of zombies and life after death is blind. Right.

February 17, 2011 at 10:37 am |

David Johnson

@CW

Jesus speaking:
John 14:14 – If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Mathew 17:20 – He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Let's be honest. Don't be afraid. Jesus said the above, about prayer. Is it true? Can you post back to me and claim what Jesus said is true?

Why has there never been a doc_umented case of an amputated limb being restored? Do you think an amputee never prayed or had faith?

Why aren't Jesus's words true? Can you think of any possibilities?

A fundie once told me, that god always answers prayers in one of three ways:

1) God says, "yes". You get what you asked for immediately.

2) God says, "to wait". You will get what you asked for at some future date.

3) God says, "no". You will not get what you asked for.

Hmmm.... But I can get the same success from the carton of milk I have sitting on the breakfast table.

1) If I pray to my magic carton, some things will come true immediately, just by chance and coincidence.

2) Some things will come true at some future date, for the same reasons.

3) If I don't get what I want, then my magic carton said, "no".

I think there is a problem, when there is no difference between praying to a god and praying to a milk carton.

You are deluded CW. When you pray, you are talking to yourself.

Cheers!

February 17, 2011 at 10:39 am |

steveo

So what if he is fighting an opponent who is also praying to god with every punch. Does god play favorites? Does he willingly not answer the prayers of the person who loses? Sounds like a lot of favoritism to me.

February 17, 2011 at 10:25 am |

litobaislubo

Talking about religion,faith ,bible etc is a complex matter..complex in a sense that we have different opinions and beliefs..we respect other beliefs.. and we practicing catholics like Pacquiao should respect us what we believed in..sign of the cross,,praying the Rosary..we are proud of our faith and of course with actions...god will guide us always like what he is doing to Manny.

February 17, 2011 at 10:19 am |

HeavenSent

Those that believe in Jesus, believe in His righteous teachings and follow and abide in His truth by incorporating His wisdom into their lives.

With His truth be known to those that believe, then non-believers do what? Follow what? Incorporate what? Care about what? Know what? Elevate to ?

I know, I know it's a crap shoot for non-believers exercising their free will to do????

So, the saga continues ...

Peace.

February 17, 2011 at 10:17 am |

Nonimus

I'm confused. what are you doing with your so-called free will? Obeying God?
According to you, you are given the power to choose and you choose to give up that power and obey the one who supposedly gave it to you. Is that correct?

February 17, 2011 at 10:27 am |

CW

@ Nonimus,

Let me ask...your always ba-'shing Christian beliefs. Let me ask....for one minute lets just consider in the end you find out that the Bible WAS true...that Jesus DID d-'ie for you....that God does indeed exist.

What would you say then? All I'm saying is just consider it.....I'm interested in what you would say.

February 17, 2011 at 10:32 am |

David Johnson

@HeavenSent

If God knows the future, that means that the future is predictable and immutable. This, in turn, means that our actions are predetermined. If god is all knowing, free will is an illusion.

This also binds god, in that He knows what he will do in the future, and He must do it.

The 6 point Calvinists believe our fates are sealed, even before we are born. This would mean that god allows humans to be born, knowing they will someday burn forever. Seems wrong to me, somehow.

If god has a "plan for each of us", then that pretty much screws up free will. LOL

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The Bible says, "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!" [Psalm 139:16]

Let's look at Jesus and his predictions that Judas would betray him and Peter would deny him.
Those were future events. Do you think Judas could have used his free will to opt out? Not if Jesus/God was omniscient. Same goes for Peter.

The actions of Peter and Judas were predestined. They had no choice.

What about the child who is murdered by a monster, or a people slaughtered by a stronger opponent (or a god)? Did they choose to be harmed? Where was their free will? These acts show that the strong or the people in power have greater free will than their victims. Hmmm...

There is no evidence that a god gives or safeguards human will.

Your god does not exist.

Love and Prayers!

February 17, 2011 at 10:32 am |

Nonimus

@CW,
Sorry, if I seem to be bashing Christians, that is not really my intent. My primary reason for visiting Belief Blog is too hopefully clarify misperceptions about science that seem to be so rampant in faith oriented blogs. That goal frequently blurs into questioning what I see as invalid logic, which to me is equally bad. Although very often I find myself remembering what someone once said, "you can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into." So, if I seem to be bashing Christians for the sake of bashing Christians, I'm sorry, that is not my intent. I will, however, probably continue to bash bad logic and bad science.

As to your question, 'What would [I] say then?' Perhaps something like, "What were you thinking?"
But, probably something more like, 'I was honestly using the abilities that, apparently, you gave me to the best of my abilities to understand the world you created based on the evidence you provided. If that is not what you intended, perhaps you should have been more clear.'
That being said, I honestly don't think it will come up. Most likely being dead will be much like being not-yet-born and I was fine with that. Otherwise, and it really makes no sense to me that this would be the case but if so then, God supposedly knows me better than I know myself so he will do with me what he decides; I tried my best. If that is roasting me in hellfire for eternity, so be it, I will then righteously curse his name every second for the unjustifiable torture he puts me through.

Hope that answers your question.

February 17, 2011 at 11:08 am |

David Johnson

@CW

You said: "Let me ask....for one minute lets just consider in the end you find out that the Bible WAS true...that Jesus DID d-'ie for you....that God does indeed exist."

For just a minute, let's consider the Koran is true. That Allah is the one true god. And because you chose the wrong belief, you will find yourself at a very large barbecue.

What would you say then? All I'm saying is just consider it.....I'm interested in what you would say. LOL!

If you had been born in Iran to Muslim parents, you would be squawking, "Allah Akbar"!

One of the most compelling reasons to reject the notion of a god, is the fact that there are so many versions of god(s).

Some, not even human (The elephant-faced god – Ganesha etc.).

Each religion, each denomination of each religion (thousands of different denominations of Christianity), defines god's wants differently.

All of these religions cannot be right. But they can all be wrong.

Why would the true god(s) leave room for confusion?

Cheers!

February 17, 2011 at 11:22 am |

Godless

So if Pacquiao loses his next fight, does that mean he didn't pray hard enough? What if he lost to a *gasp* Muslim? OMG!!!!!!!!!!! God wouldn't allow that injustice, would he?

February 17, 2011 at 9:52 am |

Bob.

Typical Christian Nutter: "If he was Muslim he must be powered by Satan!"

Scientific studies have shown that prayers are not answered any better than happenstance.

But, I will stand on my roof in the nude, and I will "send" blessings and happy thoughts to the people you mentioned!

Cheers!

February 17, 2011 at 10:01 am |

Godless

"Dear God,
Please let me pound this guy's face in. Thanks. Amen."

February 17, 2011 at 9:47 am |

David Johnson

@DB

You said: "May you wake up one day before it's too late."

It is the believer who is deluded. They want to give credit to god for all the good things:
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens; Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens; Brown paper packages tied up with strings! God is responsible for all of these things... Me singing!

For all its beauty and grandeur, the universe is also full horrible things. Babies born without brains, good people suffering monstrous tortures such as neurofibromatosis, evil people basking in the sun and enjoying long lives. Volcanoes erupting, earthquakes killing thousands, hurricanes and tornadoes blindly wiping out thousands of lives.

Believers are looking at the universe, through, as Ken Ham would say, bible glasses. He has people put these glasses on, before he spouts his ridiculous theories. Believers need to take those glasses off.

Don't use selective observation. It gives a very skewed view of reality.

The universe looks exactly as you would expect it to look, if there were no god, or if there were a god that does not care.

Love and Prayers!

February 17, 2011 at 9:45 am |

Bob.

> Believers are looking at the universe, through, as Ken Ham would say, bible glasses.

There's nothing wrong with looking at the universe with a specific vantage point. The problem comes in when you don't take a look at other vantage points.

The "average" believer is incapable and unwilling to consider things from a different standpoint because it might hurt their faith. As such, they ignore anything that contradicts their own standpoint.

Heck, I even had one person tell me "Dendrochronology is a sham" because tree rings prove that the earth is older then 26,000 years.

February 17, 2011 at 10:08 am |

David Johnson

@Bob.

This is true, even of their King James bible.

Evangelical Rule of Thumb:

If a bible verse furthers the cause, it is to be taken literally. If a bible verse is detrimental to the cause, it is either: taken out of context; is allegorical; refers to another verse somewhere else; is a translation error; means something other than what it actually says; Is a mystery of god or not discernable by humans; or is just magic.

When an uncomfortable fact is encountered, fundies will cover their ears, and bleat, "Is not, Is not!".

Thinking is a baaaahd thing.

Cheers!

February 17, 2011 at 10:21 am |

Child of God

This is the answer for an angry creation.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Rm 23:3

February 17, 2011 at 10:47 am |

Child of God

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jo 3:16

February 17, 2011 at 10:50 am |

Child of God

David Johnson, God loves you even tough you do not recognize Him. He understands your anger and frustations. If you did NOT believe in Him, you wouldn't be spending time writing bad about HIM or those who love HIM. You wouldn't be spending time and energy trying to prove HE does not exist. Just drop it and BELIEVE. Come on! Admit it...
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

February 17, 2011 at 11:06 am |

David Johnson

@Child of God

And god so loved the world, He also gave:

Babies born without brains, good people suffering monstrous tortures such as neurofibromatosis, evil people basking in the sun and enjoying long lives. Volcanoes erupting, earthquakes killing thousands, hurricanes and tornadoes blindly wiping out thousands of lives.

Your post is the same as DB's. Hence my same reply to you.

Believers are deluded.

Cheers!

February 17, 2011 at 11:07 am |

MarkinFL

Basically, all the other boxers that are trying hard and praying should just give up on their religion since they have already been found wanting by their god. Unless they can become better Christians they are doomed to failure. To believe his faith has anything to do with his success takes even more faith. There is no logic for the conclusion that piety is the reason for his success. Perhaps he becomes more focused through prayer, but that is only an effect of belief, not a god's intervention.

February 17, 2011 at 9:33 am |

David Johnson

@MarkinFL

Also, the Christian doesn't always win the match. Often a Muslim or a member of another faith, wins.

How can this be?

Curious in Arizona

February 17, 2011 at 9:51 am |

MarkinFL

Yeah, I seem to remember some guy name Mohamed Ali? Does that name ring a bell?

February 17, 2011 at 10:00 am |

Round 1

@reality....for sure you are without......FAITH....and you do not have the ability to box...

February 17, 2011 at 8:42 am |

David Johnson

@basti

You said: "everything comes from God."

Yep, even tapeworms and ticks and worms that bore into a child's eye. Not to mention disease and disasters that kill thousands.

Thank you, Jesus!

Cheers!

February 17, 2011 at 8:27 am |

DB

God bless you. May you wake up one day before it's too late.

February 17, 2011 at 8:38 am |

Bob.

> God bless you. May you wake up one day before it's too late.

May you wake up before you realize you've wasted a good chunk of the only life you have.

PS: What did he say that was wrong? God did create those things.

February 17, 2011 at 10:05 am |

Bob.

Wait, people actually still watch boxing? Wow. Gogo UFC!

February 17, 2011 at 8:26 am |

reality, too

at Reality: prayer should be coupled with action, otherwise it's dead. Bible said that.

February 17, 2011 at 8:17 am |

Bob.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

*gasp* *pant*

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Let me get this straight. You're saying that prayer only works when the individual takes action themselves? That's hilarious.

Let me try one. "Magic Pixie dust doesn't work unless there is action taken by the individual!".

February 17, 2011 at 8:28 am |

basti

everything comes from God. good article, Mr Eric, for remembering the Almighty in all His Glory;-)

February 17, 2011 at 8:16 am |

Bob.

Including sin. God is the author of sin. He makes man to sin, then blames man for sinning.

Isn't that like blaming a sharpened knife for being sharp?

February 17, 2011 at 8:29 am |

David Johnson

@Bob.

You said: "Including sin. God is the author of sin. He makes man to sin, then blames man for sinning.
Isn't that like blaming a sharpened knife for being sharp?"

Don't know. I never have thought that god was the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Cheers!

February 17, 2011 at 10:10 am |

ben kisla

@reality, because you are not praying at all, you are just expecting in return...

February 17, 2011 at 7:57 am |

David Johnson

@ben kisla

You said: "@reality, because you are not praying at all, you are just expecting in return..."

Or, because prayer is just you talking to yourself...

Cheers!

February 17, 2011 at 8:31 am |

Bob.

This guy isn't the only boxer who prays. And he's not the only one who does it earnestly. Yet many boxers don't make it.

I think those facts pretty much eliminate the "Prayer helps me" angle. And if it does, God then seems to bestow talent on certain individuals, bringing them to success and dooming others to failure. But wait for it, he loves all all the same.

February 17, 2011 at 8:37 am |

Reality

If praying to god makes you an eight-time boxing champ, why aren't we all boxing champs?

February 17, 2011 at 7:47 am |

reality, too

prayer should be coupled with action, otherwise it's dead. Bible said that.

February 17, 2011 at 8:18 am |

DB

Maybe you don't pray with your heart. Not all prayers are acceptable to God.

February 17, 2011 at 8:35 am |

Samson Roman

the reality is,in boxing,many are called but few are chosen to become best pound for pound and the one who pray and was really chosen by God then that chosen one will become champion....manny pacquiao is just one among the chosen ones.Again,many are called but few are chosen!Get it,mr reality?

February 17, 2011 at 8:51 am |

ufc

fool, manny pacquiao does not pray to win, but pray for safety everytime he fights, same with jesus, He prayed for the majority not for himself....

February 17, 2011 at 9:33 am |

rickmeister

Because when he was a young tike, he wanted to become a boxer. You wanted to be an accountant.

February 19, 2011 at 1:55 pm |

perry ayos

Prayers can move mountains. De la Hoya , Hatton, Cotto and Margarito were not just mountains but Mt. Everest. Pacquiao moved them with eased.

February 17, 2011 at 7:39 am |

Uh No

I don't disagree with you on faith, but those guys were not "mountains". De La Hoya was washed up, Hatton came off a tough one punch KO loss to Mayweather, Cotto never recovered from the cemented hands beatdown from Margarito, Margarito had been exposed and brutally beaten by Moseley and Clottey was never a championship caliber guy.

Pacman's an amazing boxer, but his rise has been carefully played out. His next fight against Sugar Shane (who has gone 2-2-1 in his last five fights) is nothing short of a joke.

February 17, 2011 at 12:25 pm |

Archie

@ Uh no

I would disagree with you on Margarito, Hatton and Cotto...I would agree with DLH – he was flat out drained. Margarito was very big and fit, if you ever watched 24/7 he was very confident with his actions, words and demeanor. He was ready for that fight, but was just out-classed. Hatton's KO by Mayweather in 10th round was not crushing, Hatton was ready to fight and avenge his only loss. Unfortunately his trainer gave him too big of an ego to think he can crush MP, but we saw what happened. As for Cotto, don't use the same lame excuse for that he never fully recovered....that's BS. He was the bigger man in that fight and mentally prepared....MP just has more skills compared to all of them....speed, angles, foot work, 4-5 punch combos, killer instinct to finish the fight and power. The other fighters maybe had 2 of these qualities. So don't give me this BS that these were hand picked so that it's a sure win for MP.

I was quite shocked with the fight against SSM, I thought the opponent will be Berto. SSM is still dangerous, but certainly beyond his best days. It's should be an easy beat down, but SSM is probably one of the fastest fighters he's faced.

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.